Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. -II Thessalonians 2:16, 17 KJV

I read these verses this morning, and they have been on my heart and mind all day. Think about these two words: everlasting consolation. If you are in Christ Jesus, He will never fail to bring you the comfort you need. No matter what you are facing, He will give you the strength, hope, joy, and courage to overcome distresses and disappointments. People may fail us, but our Father never will. I like that His consolation never ends because it’s everlasting. Christ has given us hope through His grace. What a blessing!

Yesterday Steven and I attended a funeral service for the mother of one of our church members. Actually, it was a funeral mass. It was the very first time that either of us had ever been inside a Catholic church. What a new experience!

There was quite a large crowd gathered to honor the life of the 92-year-old woman who had passed away, but only a small group seemed to be of the Catholic faith. The majority of people there were just as unsure of the protocol for a funeral mass as we were and, unfortunately, we somehow didn’t pick up the order of service as we entered. That would have been helpful. We just sat in a pew near the back and took it all in.

The music was beautiful, the organist talented, and the priest eloquent. He spoke highly of this well-loved, generous, and joyful lady. He also prayed for the dead and went through many other rituals. He said that this dear lady was “now beginning her journey to be with her heavenly Father,” and that, “hopefully, she will soon cross that great sea to be with God.” Those words didn’t seem very comforting to me because they lack assurance. For those of us who are in Christ Jesus, our journey is complete the moment we pass from this earthly existence.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. II Corinthians 5:6-8

My purpose is not to debate the tenants of Catholicism. There are some very good people who are Catholic, but that doesn’t mean that they (or any other religious person) are going to heaven when they die just because they adhere to a set of rules. God’s word, the Bible, doesn’t tell us to follow a pope or confess our sins to a priest. God’s word doesn’t tell us to pray for the dead or pray to idols.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; I Timothy 2:5

You might be a good Catholic reading these words right now, but maybe you’ve never heard the wonderful news that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for all of your sins and reconcile you to God. It’s not something that you have to wonder about and fret over; you can know for sure.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. I John 5:13

The Bible tells us that we all have sinned and that, because we have sinned, we deserve death. God provided a way for us to escape eternal death when His Son, Jesus Christ, willingly died on the cross to make the payment for our sins.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Being religious doesn’t get us into heaven. Going to church, giving money to help others, or getting baptized doesn’t save a person’s soul. Our salvation is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. We have to put our faith and trust in Him alone and not in the good works that we do.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5

You can know for sure that you will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:9-10, 13

That 92-year-old woman did just what these verses told her to do. Just over a year ago she realized that if she could do enough good things to get her into heaven, there would not have been a reason for Jesus Christ to die on the cross. She put her faith and trust in Him. She didn’t need a priest to pray her into heaven at her funeral; she was already there with her Saviour.

Last December I decided that it was time for me to step away from blogging for a while. I quit reading blogs for the most part, too. I started blogging during the last millennium – 2006 to be precise – and I guess I just finally got tired of it. Some of you reading this have been blogging for as long or even longer than I have been. Maybe you’ve gone through a similar phase.

Social media has changed so much since I started this blog. Back in 2006, Facebook and Twitter were itty bitty babies. We weren’t “pinning” anything but the slits in our skirts. Blogging was the best way to keep in touch with far-away friends and family, and after our family moved from Florida to Georgia, Riverbend Ramblings became my online journal. I starting reading blogs written by like-minded women and formed friendships with a few of them. I got to “know” their families and pets, celebrated milestones with them, and prayed for them when they went through difficult times. Many of those women are no longer blogging. Now it seems like most of the blogs I read are driven by advertisements and are filled with beautiful pictures of perfect homes and DIY projects. It’s just a lot different than it used to be. I think that discouraged me a little bit. I missed my little group of blogging buddies, lost interest, and stepped away.

I’m still hoping that some of the gals that were in my little circle will start writing again. I’ve kept them in my feed reader just in case. But I’m not blogging for them; I’m blogging for me. This week marks the seven year anniversary of my first blog post. Here’s the picture I used for my very first blog header.

Those babies aren’t babies anymore. Bookworm is begging for her driver’s permit, Mickey Mouse is looking less like a boy and more like a man, Curly Girl is almost as tall as I am, and Lil’ Nut can outrun us all. The many memories on these pages are priceless.

So, I’m back. I’m over my slump and raring to go. And I hope you’ll join me on the next leg of this amazing journey.

A family in our church experienced a real tragedy over the weekend. Their daughter and son-in-law were in a head-on accident. Their son-in-law passed away, and their daughter sustained major injuries. My heart has been hurting for this family, for the wife who is left behind, for the children now without their father.

I know that I am guilty of taking the blessings of God in my life for granted. I go through my days without much thought about the brevity of life. I’m ashamed to say that I cannot count the number of times I’ve been guilty of speaking harsh words or shown an unkind attitude to those I love. What if that were the last time I ever had a chance to show them my love? None of us knows how long God has given us on this earth. I want to spend my days letting my light shine for Him and showing His love so that I won’t have any regrets.

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

“Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy.
Peace does not dwell on outward things, but in the heart prepared to
wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His
hands.” Elisabeth Elliot

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines discouragement as follows: the act of
disheartening, or depriving of courage; the act of deterring or
dissuading; the act of depressing confidence. That doesn’t sound very pleasant! Christians aren’t immune from becoming discouraged, but the way we handle discouragement should be different than the world’s method.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” I Peter 5:8-9

The Bible is full of examples of people who experienced discouragement and how they responded to it. Some turned to God in their time of trouble, and others used their circumstances as an excuse to sin. Satan can only gain the victory when we give in to the flesh and allow his attacks to consume our minds. The right response is to turn to the Lord and cry out to Him.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsover
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have
both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God
of of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9

What do you do when you get discouraged? Do you lose hope? Do you want to give up? God wants us to keep our joy in the midst of trials. God gives us His peace to overcome the insanity of Satan.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the
LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” Isaiah 26:3-4

I have no idea what you’re facing today. You may be having problems with your health, your family, or your finances. Perhaps someone has let you down or has lied about you. How should you respond when you are discouraged? Give your discouragement over to God!

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” I Peter 5:7

We’ve been promised the victory! Memorize and meditate on Bible verses, spend extra time in prayer, stay away from ungodly influences, and refuse to give place to the Devil. We are on the winning side and are complete in Christ Jesus!

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory
by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish, strengthen, settle you.” I Peter 5:10

It’s December 31st. Tonight we’ll be ringing in 2012 at our church’s annual Watch Night service. There will be great singing, a message from our pastor, food, fellowship, and testimonies shared as we praise God for His goodness.

As I was thinking today about how fast this year has flown by, one of my favorite hymns came to mind. It sums up how I feel about 2011.

~~~~~~~~~~Great is Thy Faithfulness
by Thomas Chisholm

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain
~~~~~~~~~~

No matter what may happen in the coming year, I know I can continue to count on my Saviour’s faithfulness! Happy New Year!

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 89:1